FORMER Arsenal midfielder Thomas Eisfeld has revealed how Arsene Wenger is “very quiet” in training – unless you start doing long balls.
Eisfeld arrived from Borussia Dortmund back in 2012 with a billing as one of Germany’s top young talents, but struggled to make the breakthrough with the Gunners before being sold to Fulham in July last year.
The 22-year-old, now on loan at German side Bochum, only made two appearances for Arsenal’s first team but reserved praise for his former coach over the gravitas he displays behind closed doors.
He told Goal: “Arsenal stands for a certain kind of football. Arsene Wenger has formed the club, he emphasises the beauty of the game.
“If you play a long ball in training you would get some words – even from the other players. He [Wenger] is very quiet, doesn’t talk much. During training sessions he rarely corrects something.
“Only after having finished he will talk to you, two or three sentences. And that is what you remember for a long time. In general, he is a person everybody respects, absolutely.”
Although his time at the Emirates Stadium was ultimately unsuccessful, Eisfeld insists that he would make the same move if he were to have his time again.
“If you get an offer from Arsenal you don’t decline it as a young player,” he added. “The club is a world club, regularly playing in the Champions League.
“I would sign right away. You learn so much. The level at training is crazy high. There are several players who are internationals competing for the positions. There’s so much to learn for a young player.”